Kissimmee voters could change election system by changing city charter

ELECTION 2008

January 20, 2008|By Mark Pino, Sentinel Staff Writer

Kissimmee voters have a chance to give politicians the luck of the draw in future city elections.

If approved by voters Jan. 29, a charter amendment would mandate a lottery to decide the order of names on the ballot.

There are four other charter questions for Kissimmee residents, but none may be as radical as the lottery. It is thought that Kissimmee would become the first government in Florida to use a lottery for name placement.

Proponents contend that a lottery gives all candidates -- A through Z -- a shot at the top spot on the ballot. And being at the top is worth some votes -- vital in crowded city elections that often require runoffs.

Although experts concede ballot position can help a candidate at the top, they say a lottery simply transfers the advantage to the lottery winner.

In Florida's partisan elections, ballot placement is determined by the party of the governor. In party primaries and nonpartisan races, the names are listed alphabetically. Only circuit judges are put on the ballot using a lottery system.Voters gravitate to the first name on the ballot when they know little about the candidates, when party affiliation is not listed or when there is no incumbent, a researcher said.

No one has claimed ballot placement has cost anyone an election in Kissimmee. In 2004 elections, Jeanne Van Meter received more votes than Domingo Toro, who appeared before her on the ballot. She then beat Toro in a runoff. That same year, Jerry Gemskie defeated John Cortes in a runoff after getting the most votes in the general election.

The other charter proposals include:

*Eliminate term limits: Those who want to abolish them say they are unnecessary because voters make the ultimate decision if an official has served too long. Those who favor them say incumbents have an advantage for being re-elected -- and could serve indefinitely without limits.

Term limits were part of the package when commission terms were expanded from two years to four in 1992. But the matter has been controversial because term limits are not permanent. After serving for two terms and sitting out an election cycle, residents are eligible to seek office again.

*Changing election dates: The general election would take place during the state's primary election day and a runoff, if needed, would take place at the same time as the state's general election. Supporters say synchronizing the elections would eliminate a December runoff and save money. Some worry elections could be decided in August when the turnout is lower than in the November general election.

*Eliminating petition requirement: The charter requires that candidates get 20 signed petitions as part of the qualifying process. Officials say the number is meaningless in a city of more than 50,000. Candidates would still pay a qualification fee. Some might feel that some signatures, no matter how few, are still a sign that a candidate is willing to work to get on the ballot.

*Commission succession: The matter came up after Mayor George Gant was suspended from office. City commissioners appointed an outsider as mayor until a special election was held.

Under the proposal, the vice mayor would become mayor if the mayor was suspended from office. The vice mayor would fill the position until the suspension is revoked or for the remainder of the unexpired term. The commission would then appoint someone to the vice mayor's commission seat until the vice mayor returned to his or her usual duties.

If a commissioner were suspended, the commission would appoint a replacement until the suspension is revoked or for the remainder of the unexpired term.

If a majority of the commission cannot agree on appointment, a special election would take place, provided that the election would not be within six months before the end of the term of office.